Land grid array connector

ABSTRACT

An LGA connector, for interconnecting an IC package with a printed circuit board, includes an insulative housing having a number of electrical terminals received therein, a metal stiffener mounted to the insulative housing, a cover and a lever pivotally engaged to two opposite ends of the stiffener, respectively. The insulative housing defines an opening for receiving the IC package and two walls extending upwardly thereof, and each wall disposes a first cutout. The stiffener surrounding the insulative housing defines two side walls adjacent and parallel to the walls of the insulative housing. Each side wall disposes a second cutout corresponding to the first cutout so as to so as to remove the IC package easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector forelectrically connecting an electronic package such as an integratedcircuit (IC) package with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuitboard (PCB), and particularly to a land grid array connector having astiffener with cutouts to remove the IC package easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

Land grid array (LGA) connector for electrically connecting a land gridpackage (LGP) with a printed circuit board (PCB) is widely used in thefield of electrical connectors. The conventional LGA connector, such asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,877,990 and 7,059,885, issued to Liao onApr. 12, 2005, and Szu on Jun. 13, 2006, respectively, typicallycomprises an insulative housing, a stiffener mounted around theinsulative housing, a cover pivotally engaged with one end of thestiffener, and a lever engaged with the other end of the stiffener forfastening the cover onto the insulative housing. The LGP is sandwichedbetween the cover and the insulative housing. The insulative housingusually defines an opening adapted for receiving the LGP and a cutout intwo transversal sides thereof opposite to the ends of the stiffener,respectively, for removing the LGP more easily.

Now referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 discloses a related LGA connector whichis our new confidential design and not be published is illustrated. TheLGA connector 100′ comprises an insulative housing 1′, a stiffener 2′mounted around the insulative housing 1′, a metal cover 3′ pivotallyengaged on one end of the stiffener 2′, and a lever 4′ engaged on theother end of the stiffener 2′ for fastening the cover 3′ onto theinsulative housing 1′. The stiffener 2′ includes a bottom plate 21′ andtwo lengthwise sidewalls 22′ extending upwardly from the bottom plate21′. The insulative housing 1′ is mounted on the bottom plate 21′ of thestiffener 2′ and defines an opening 10′ for receiving an LGP (not shown)and two opposite lengthwise walls 11′ substantially parallel to the twosidewalls 22′ of the stiffener 2′. As the insulative housing 1′ has abigger length dimension, each wall 11′ disposes a cutout 12′ in centerthereof for removing the LGP. The cover 3′ includes a main plate 31′ andtwo side plates 32′, 33′ extending downwardly from two sides of the mainplate 31′. The lever 4′ comprises a pivotal arm 41′ and an operationalarm 42′ substantially perpendicular to the pivotal arm 41′.

In use, the cover 3′ is first rotated to a vertical open position, andthe LGP (not shown) is seated onto the opening 10′ of the insulativehousing 1′. Then the cover 3′ is rotated to a horizontal closed positionand locked by the lever 4′. At last, the LGP (not shown) is sandwichedbetween the insulative housing 1′ and the cover 3′.

However, in the LGA connector 100′ above-mentioned, the wall 11′ of theinsulative housing 1′ is closer to the sidewalls 22′ of the stiffener 2′in order to save space and material. In this case, there is not enoughspace between the wall 11′ and the sidewall 22′ for removing the LGP(not shown) by virtue of the cutout 12′ of the wall 11′.

In view of the above, a new LGA connector which overcomes theabove-mentioned disadvantages is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an LGAconnector that can remove the LGP easily when the LGP is beingsandwiched in the LGA connector.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, an LGA connector in accordancewith the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a pluralityof terminals disposed in the insulative housing, a stiffener surroundedthe insulative housing, a cover and a lever pivotally mounted twoopposite ends of the stiffener, respectively. The insulative housingincludes a base portion and two opposite peripheral walls extendingupwardly from the base portion, and each wall defines a first cutout forremoving the IC package easily. The stiffener comprises a bottom plateand two sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom plate and adjacentto the walls of the insulative housing, and each sidewall defines asecond cutout corresponding to the cutout of the wall of the insulativehousing.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a related LGA connector;

FIG. 2 is an assembled, perspective view of an LGA connector inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the LGA connector shown inFIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the presentinvention in detail.

Referring to FIG. 2, an LGA connector 100 in accordance with thepreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an insulativehousing 1, a plurality of terminals (not shown), a stiffener 2surrounding the insulative housing 1, a metal cover 3 pivotally engagedon a first end of the stiffener 2, and a lever 4 pivotally engaged on asecond end opposite to the first end of the stiffener 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the insulative housing 1 has a substantiallyrectangular configuration. The insulative housing 1 includes a baseportion 10 and two pairs of opposite walls 11, 12 extending upwardlyfrom the base portion 10 for forming an opening 13 to receive an LGP(not shown). The base portion 10 defines a plurality of passageways (notshown) through there adapted for receiving the plurality of terminals.The pair of longitudinal walls 11 each define a first cutout 14 incentre thereof. The first cutout 14 runs through a top edge of thelongitudinal wall 11.

The stiffener 2 comprises a bottom plate 21, two opposite sidewalls 22,23 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 21, a first and second ends24, 25, and a window 26 formed therebetween for receiving the insulativehousing 1. A hooking portion 27 extends outwardly from a top end of thesidewall 22 for retaining the lever 4. The two sidewalls 22, 23 areadjacent to the longitudinal walls 11 of the insulative housing 1,respectively, and each defines a second cutout 221, 231 corresponding tothe first cutouts 14 of the longitudinal walls 11. The second cutouts221, 231 run through top edges of the sidewalls 22, 23, respectively.The first end 24 defines two locking holes 241 for retaining the cover3.

The cover 3 is pivotally engaged with the first end 24 of the stiffener2 and also has a substantially rectangular configuration and comprises amain body 31 having an access 32 and two opposite side plates 33extending downwardly from two outside edges of the main body 31,respectively. A pair of latches 34 and an anti-rotation bar 35 locatedtherebetween extend from one end of the main body 31 for engaging withthe locking holes 241 of the stiffener 2, and a tongue portion 36extends from the other end of the main body 31 for being pressed by thelever 4. A pair of pressing portions 37 bends toward the insulativehousing 1 inner side of the main body 31 for pressing the LGP (notshown).

The lever 4 is pivotally engaged with the second end 25 of the stiffener2 and comprises a pivotal arm 41 and an operational arm 42 substantiallyperpendicular to the pivotal arm 41. The pivotal arm 41 defines a middlecurved portion 43 for pressing on the tongue portion 36 of the cover 3.The operational arm 42 is locked with the hooking portion 27 of thestiffener 2, therefore fastening the LPG (not shown) between theinsulative housing 1 and the cover 3. A handle 44 extends upwardly andforwardly from a distal end of the operational arm 42. The handle 44parallels to the operational arm 42 and has a same distance to sidewall22 with the operational arm 42. A third cutout 222 is disposed in thesidewall 22 of the insulative housing 1 so as to facilitate theoperation of the handle 44. The third cutout 222 runs through a top edgeof the sidewall 22.

When the connector 100 is in use, the LGP (not shown) is disposed intothe opening 13 of the insulative housing 1. To remove the LGP (notshown), an operator can first press the lever 4 via the handle 44 tounlock the lever 4 from the hooking portion 27 of the stiffener 2, thenrotate the lever 4 upwardly to a open position, and then rotate thecover 3 to a vertical open position, and at last remove the LGA (notshown) easily by virtue of the first cutout 14 of the insulative housing1 and the second cutout 221, 231 of the stiffener 2. Accordingly, theinterference between the sidewall 22 or 23 with the longitudinal wall 11is avoided because of the second cutout 221, 231. In addition, the thirdcutout 222 of the stiffener 2 makes the operation of the handle 44 ofthe lever 4 more easily.

While preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention hasbeen shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known topersons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the presentinvention are considered within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A land grid array connector for interconnecting an electronic packageand a circuit substrate, comprising: an insulative housing receiving aplurality of terminals, including a base portion and two oppositeperipheral walls extending upwardly from the base portion, and each walldefining a first cutout for removing the IC package easily; a stiffenersurrounding the insulative housing and comprising a bottom plate and twosidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom plate and adjacent to thewalls of the insulative housing, and each sidewall defining a secondcutout corresponding to the cutout of the insulative housing; and acover pivotally mounted to one end of the stiffener.
 2. The land gridarray connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insulative housingand the stiffener each define a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair oftransverse sides, said first and second cutouts are disposed in thelongitudinal sides.
 3. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim1, further comprising a lever pivotally mounted to the other end of thestiffener.
 4. The land grid array connector as claimed in claim 3,wherein the lever includes a pivotal arm and an operational armextending perpendicularly from one end of the pivotal arm.
 5. The landgrid array connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein a handle extendsupwardly and forwardly from a distal end of the operational arm, and thehandle parallels to the operational arm and has a same distance to afirst sidewall of the two sidewalls of the stiffener.
 6. The land gridarray connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stiffener has ahooking portion extending from the first sidewall of the stiffener forblocking the operational arm of the lever.
 7. The land grid arrayconnector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first sidewall disposes athird cutout corresponding to the handle of the lever so as tofacilitate the operation of the handle.
 8. The land grid array connectoras claimed in claim 7, wherein the third cutout runs through a top edgeof the first sidewall.
 9. A fastening device, for fixing an electronicpackage to an electrical connector, comprising: a stiffener andcomprising a bottom plate, two ends, and two longitudinal sidewallsextending upwardly from the bottom plate, each longitudinal sidewalldefining a cutout; a cover pivotally mounted to one end of thestiffener; and a lever pivotally mounted to the other end of thestiffener.
 10. The fastening device as claimed in claim 9, wherein thelever includes a pivotal arm and an operational arm extendingperpendicularly from one end of the pivotal arm.
 11. The fasteningdevice as claimed in claim 10, wherein a handle extends upwardly andforwardly from a distal end of the operational arm, and the handleparallels to the operational arm and has a same distance to a firstsidewall of the two sidewalls of the stiffener.
 12. The fastening deviceas claimed in claim 11, wherein the stiffener has a hooking portionextending from the first sidewall of the stiffener for blocking theoperational arm of the lever.
 13. The fastening device as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the first sidewall has another cutout corresponding tothe handle of the lever so as to facilitate the operation of the handle.14. The fastening device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cutouts runthrough a top edge of the sidewalls.
 15. An electrical connectorcomprising: a rectangular metallic stiffener defining a bottom platewith two opposite side plates extending upwardly from two opposite edgesof the bottom plate; a hook unitarily formed on one of said side plate;an insulative housing located between said opposite side plates; a loadplate pivotally mounted to one end of the stiffener; and a leverpivotally mounted to the other end of the stiffener to lock the loadplate in position, and defining an operation arm moveable in a verticalplane closer to one of said opposite side plates; wherein said one ofsaid opposite side plates defines a cutout around said hook for not onlyeasy operation of said operation arm but also less interference betweenthe load plate and the stiffener.